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Investigation
Immune Presentation and Regulation
Research Lines
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Neisseria, Listeria y Bordetella
• Invasive Meningococcal Disease.
o Laboratory surveillance based on whole-genome sequencing and its application in Public Health.
o Study and characterization of antimicrobial resistance mechanisms.
o Study and evaluation of conventional (polysaccharide) and new-generation (protein) vaccines.
• Gonococcal Infection (Gonorrhea).
o Laboratory surveillance based on whole-genome sequencing and its application in Public Health.
o Study and characterization of antimicrobial resistance mechanisms.
• Listeriosis.
o Laboratory surveillance based on whole-genome sequencing and its application in Public Health.
• Pertussis.
o Development and application of molecular techniques for the diagnosis and characterization of Bordetella pertussis, B. parapertussis, B. holmessi, and B. bronchiseptica.
Research projects
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1. Project Title: Determination of the degree of identity of common antigens of N. meningitidis and N. gonorrhoeae using genomic and immunological tools.
Principal Investigator: Raquel Abad Torreblanca
Funding Entity: ISCIII. Program: Strategic Action in Intramural Health
Reference: PI23CIII/00040
Period: 2024-2026
Amount Awarded: €68,500
2. Project Title: Meningococcal Disease and Molecular Epidemiology (MEMORY).
Principal Investigator: Raquel Abad Torreblanca and Julio A. Vázquez Moreno
Funding Entity: Pfizer Inc.
Reference: MVP 352/21
Period: 2022-2024
Amount Awarded: €82,834.50
3. Project Title: Modelling Approaches to Guide Intelligent Surveillance for the Sustainable Introduction of Novel Antibiotics. MAGIcIAN.
Principal Investigator: Raquel Abad Torreblanca
Funding Entity: ISCIII / International Joint Action / Joint Programming Initiatives (JPI) Program
Reference: AC19CIII/00002
Period: 2020-2024
Amount Awarded: €46,000
4. Project Title: Epidemiological, Microbiological, and Clinical Analysis of the Listeriosis Outbreak in Andalusia. LISMOAN Study.
Principal Investigator: José Miguel Cisneros Herreros
Funding Entity: FISEVI (Andalusian Public Foundation for Health Research Management)/FPS2020 Call for Proposals
Reference: PI-0001-2020
Period: 2020-2023
Amount Awarded: €114,954
5. Project Title: Population Structure of Neisseria meningitidis Using Massive Sequencing: A Potential Tool for Estimating Vaccine Effectiveness?
Principal Investigator: Raquel Abad Torreblanca
Funding Entity: ISCIII / Strategic Action in Intramural Health
Reference: PI19CIII/00030
Period: 2020-2023
Amount Awarded: €67,153
6. Project Title: Management agreement between the Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality (Directorate General of Public Health, Quality and Innovation) and the Carlos III Health Institute, for the laboratory determinations corresponding to the 2nd seroprevalence study in Spain.
Principal Investigator: Fernando de Ory and Julio A. Vázquez
Funding Entity: Directorate General of Public Health, Ministry of Health
Reference: MEG151/17
Period: 2018-2020
Amount Awarded: €565,663
7. Project Title: Effectiveness of the Meningococcal B Vaccine in Immunocompromised Children with Sickle Cell Disease
Principal Investigator: Raquel Abad Torreblanca
Funding Entity: Spanish Society of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Foundation (SEHOP)
Reference: MVP 199/18
Period: 2018-2020
Amount Awarded: €18,285
8. Project Title: Application of Massive Sequencing and Immunological Approaches in the Expression Analysis of New Vaccine Antigens in Meningococcal Populations
Principal Investigator: Raquel Abad Torreblanca
Funding Entity: ISCIII / Strategic Action in Intramural Health
Reference: PI16CIII/00023
Period: 2017-2020
Amount Awarded: €115,084
9. Project Title: fHbp variability over time and potential coverage of the new meningococcal serogroup B vaccine (bivalent rLP2086/fHbp) in Spain.
Principal Investigators: Raquel Abad and Julio A. Vázquez
Funding Entity: Pfizer SLU
Reference: MVP 1273/16
Period: 2017-2020
Amount Awarded: €125,350
10. Project Title: Estimation of protection of a conjugate vaccine against meningococcus serogroup C based on a mathematical model.
Principal Investigator: Julio A. Vázquez and Javier Díez
Funding Entity: Higher Center for Research in Public Health (CSISP)
Reference: MVP 1116/11
Period: 2011-2017
Amount awarded: €143,750
Publications
pective comparative multi-centre study on imported Plasmodium ovale wallikeri and Plasmodium ovale curtisi infections.
Rojo-Marcos G, Rubio-Muñoz JM, Angheben A, Jaureguiberry S, García-Bujalance S, Tomasoni LR, Rodríguez-Valero N, Ruiz-Giardín JM, Salas-Coronas J, Cuadros-González J, García-Rodríguez M, Molina-Romero I, López-Vélez R, Gobbi F, Calderón-Moreno M, Martin-Echevarría E, Elía-López M, Llovo-Taboada J; TropNet Plasmodium ovale investigator group. Prospective comparative multi-centre study on imported Plasmodium ovale wallikeri and Plasmodium ovale curtisi infections. Malar J. 2018 Oct 30;17(1):399.
PUBMED DOIImported and autochthonous malaria in West Saudi Arabia: results from a reference hospital
Soliman RH, Garcia-Aranda P, Elzagawy SM, Hussein BE, Mayah WW, Martin Ramirez A, Ta-Tang TH, Rubio JM. Imported and autochthonous malaria in West Saudi Arabia: results from a reference hospital. Malar J. 2018 Aug 7;17(1):286.
PUBMED DOICryptosporidium hominis genotypes involved in increased incidence and clusters of cases, Navarra, Spain, 2012.
Fuentes, I., Martín, C., Beristain, X; Mazón,A, Saugar, JM, Blanco, A; García M, Cenoz, Valle-Cristia, Ezpeleta, C., Castilla, J. 2015. Cryptosporidium hominis genotypes involved in increased incidence and clusters of cases, Navarra, Spain, 2012. Epidemiology and Infection; 143:1033-6
PUBMED DOIMolecular genotyping of Giardia duodenalis isolates from symptomatic individuals attending two major public hospitals in Madrid, Spain.
Lucio A, Martínez-Ruiz R, Merino FJ, Bailo B, Aguilera M, Fuentes I, Carmena D. 2015. Molecular genotyping of Giardia duodenalis isolates from symptomatic individuals attending two major public hospitals in Madrid, Spain. PLoS One. 10 (12): e0143981.
PUBMED DOIOccurrence and subtype distribution of Blastocystis sp. in humans, dogs, and cats sharing household in northern Spain and assessment of zoonotic transmission risk.
Paulos S, Köster PC, de Lucio A, Hernández-de-Mingo M, Cardona GA, Fernández-Crespo JC, Stensvold RC, Carmena D. 2018. Occurrence and subtype distribution of Blastocystis sp. in humans, dogs, and cats sharing household in northern Spain and assessment of zoonotic transmission risk. Zoonoses and Public Health, 65:993-1002.
PUBMED DOIPhlebotomine sand fly survey in the focus of leishmaniasis of Madrid, Spain (2012–2014): seasonal dynamics, Leishmania infantum infection rates and blood meal preferences.
González E, Jiménez M, Hernández S, Martín-Martín I, Molina R. Phlebotomine sand fly survey in the focus of leishmaniasis of Madrid, Spain (2012–2014): seasonal dynamics, Leishmania infantum infection rates and blood meal preferences. Parasit Vectors 2017, 10:368.
PUBMED DOIMethods in Sand Fly Research
Molina R, Jiménez M, Alvar J, González E, Hernández-Taberna S, Martín-Martín Inés. 2017. Methods in Sand Fly Research (R. Molina, M. Jiménez & J. Alvar, edits.). Servicio de Publicaciones Universidad de Alcalá de Henares. ISBN: 978-84-16978-28-1
Factors associated with Leishmania asymptomatic infection: results from a cross-sectional survey in highland northern Ethiopia
Custodio E, Gadisa E, Sordo L, Cruz I, Moreno J, Nieto J, Chicharro C, Aseffa A, Abraham Z, Hailu T, Cañavate C. Factors associated with Leishmania asymptomatic infection: results from a cross-sectional survey in highland northern Ethiopia. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2012;6(9):e1813.
PUBMED DOICytokine Release Assays as Tests for Exposure to Leishmania, and for Confirming Cure from Leishmaniasis, in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients.
Carrillo E, Carrasco-Antón N, López-Medrano F, Salto E, Fernández L, San Martín JV, Alvar J, Aguado JM, Moreno J. Cytokine Release Assays as Tests for Exposure to Leishmania, and for Confirming Cure from Leishmaniasis, in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2015 Oct 23;9(10):e0004179.
PUBMED DOIChemotactic Protein 1 in Plasma from Soluble Leishmania Antigen-Stimulated Whole Blood as a Potential Biomarker of the Cellular Immune Response to Leishmania infantum
Ibarra-Meneses AV, Sanchez C, Alvar J, Moreno J, Carrillo E. Monocyte Chemotactic Protein 1 in Plasma from Soluble Leishmania Antigen-Stimulated Whole Blood as a Potential Biomarker of the Cellular Immune Response to Leishmania infantum. Front Immunol. 2017 Sep 29;8:1208.
PUBMED DOICytokines and chemokines measured in dried SLA-stimulated whole blood spots for asymptomatic Leishmania infantum and Leishmania donovani infection.
Ibarra-Meneses AV, Mondal D, Alvar J, Moreno J, Carrillo E. Cytokines and chemokines measured in dried SLA-stimulated whole blood spots for asymptomatic Leishmania infantum and Leishmania donovani infection. Sci Rep. 2017 Dec 8;7(1):17266.
PUBMED DOICellular Markers of Active Disease and Cure in Different Forms of Leishmania infantum-Induced Disease.
Botana L, Matía B, San Martin JV, Romero-Maté A, Castro A, Molina L, Fernandez L, Ibarra-Meneses A, Aguado M, Sánchez C, Horrillo L, Chicharro C, Nieto J, Ortega S, Ruiz-Giardin JM, Carrillo E, Moreno J. Cellular Markers of Active Disease and Cure in Different Forms of Leishmania infantum-Induced Disease. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2018 Nov 13;8:381.
PUBMED DOICarroll MW et al. Temporal and spatial analysis of the 2014-2015 Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa. Nature.
Carroll MW et al. Temporal and spatial analysis of the 2014-2015 Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa. Nature. 2015 Aug 6;524(7563):97-101. doi: 10.1038/nature14594. Epub 2015 Jun 17. PMID: 26083749.
Fernandez-Garcia MD, Meertens L, Chazal M, Hafirassou ML, Dejarnac O, Zamborlini A, Despres P, Sauvonnet N, Arenzana-Seisdedos F, Jouvenet N, Amara A. Vaccine and Wild-Type Strains of Yellow Fever Virus Engage Distinct Entry Mechanisms and Differentially Stimulate Antiviral Immune Responses.
Fernandez-Garcia MD, Meertens L, Chazal M, Hafirassou ML, Dejarnac O, Zamborlini A, Despres P, Sauvonnet N, Arenzana-Seisdedos F, Jouvenet N, Amara A. Vaccine and Wild-Type Strains of Yellow Fever Virus Engage Distinct Entry Mechanisms and Differentially Stimulate Antiviral Immune Responses. mBio. 2016 Feb 9;7(1):e01956-15. doi: 10.1128/mBio.01956-15. PMID: 26861019; PMCID:PMC4752603.
Identification and whole-genome characterization of a recombinant Enterovirus B69 isolated from a patient with Acute Flaccid Paralysis in Niger, 2015
Fernandez-Garcia MD, Majumdar M, Kebe O, Ndiaye K, Martin J. Identification and whole-genome characterization of a recombinant Enterovirus B69 isolated from a patient with Acute Flaccid Paralysis in Niger, 2015. Sci Rep. 2018 Feb 1;8(1):2181. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-20346-9. PMID: 29391547; PMCID: PMC5795009.
Majumdar M, Sharif S, Klapsa D, Wilton T, Alam MM, Fernandez-Garcia MD, Rehman L, Mujtaba G, McAllister G, Harvala H, Templeton K, Mee ET, Asghar H, Ndiaye K, Minor PD, Martin J. Environmental Surveillance Reveals Complex Enterovirus Circulation Patterns in Human Populations. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2018
Majumdar M, Sharif S, Klapsa D, Wilton T, Alam MM, Fernandez-Garcia MD, Rehman L, Mujtaba G, McAllister G, Harvala H, Templeton K, Mee ET, Asghar H, Ndiaye K, Minor PD, Martin J. Environmental Surveillance Reveals Complex Enterovirus Circulation Patterns in Human Populations. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2018 Oct 1;5(10):ofy250. doi: 10.1093/ofid/ofy250. PMID: 30377626; PMCID: PMC6201154.
Fernandez-Garcia MD, Majumdar M, Kebe O, Fall AD, Kone M, Kande M, Dabo M, Sylla MS, Sompare D, Howard W, Faye O, Martin J, Ndiaye K. Emergence of Vaccine-Derived Polioviruses during Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak, Guinea, 2014-2015.
Fernandez-Garcia MD, Majumdar M, Kebe O, Fall AD, Kone M, Kande M, Dabo M, Sylla MS, Sompare D, Howard W, Faye O, Martin J, Ndiaye K. Emergence of Vaccine-Derived Polioviruses during Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak, Guinea, 2014-2015. Emerg Infect Dis. 2018 Jan;24(1):65-74. doi: 10.3201/eid2401.171174. PMID:29260690; PMCID: PMC5749474.
Content with Investigacion .
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Almudena Cascajero Díaz
Técnico de laboratorio
ORCID code: 0000-0002-9654-3100
Técnico Superior de Actividades Técnicas y Profesionales (Unidades de Inmunopatología del SIDA y Legionella, Centro Nacional de Microbiología). Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory Technician by IES Renacimiento de Madrid.
Experience in cloning techniques and characterization of neutralizing antibodies and participation in different projects on the pathogenesis of HIV by studying the viral envelope and the mechanisms of resistance to antiretroviral drugs. This experience has subsequently allowed me to participate in 5 multicenter clinical studies studying the immune response against different variants of SARS-CoV-2.
Since 2021, I also participate as a laboratory technician in the Legionella Unit as a support to the Spanish National Health System through the microbiological surveillance of the disease to contribute to the prevention and control of legionellosis.
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Laura del Estal Gómez
Ayudante de investigación
ORCID code: 0009-0000-2773-8986
Graduada en Biología Sanitaria por la Universidad de Alcalá. Máster Universitario en Microbiología Aplicada a la Salud Pública e Investigación en Enfermedades Infecciosas.
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Caroline Stephanie Crisóstomo Vergara
Técnico de Laboratorio
ORCID code: 0009-0008-0525-1737
Técnico de Laboratorio. Técnico superior de Laboratorio Clínico y Biomédico por la Escuela Técnica de Enseñanzas Especializadas de Madrid. Máster en Microbiología Clínica por el Instituto Europeo de Química, Física y Biología de Madrid.
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Fernando González Camacho
Científico Titular
ORCID code: 0000-0003-3175-9004
Licenciado en Ciencias Biológicas por la Universidad de Salamanca y Doctor por la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. Actualmente, es Científico Titular de plantilla en el Centro Nacional de Microbiología (CNM) del Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII). Responsable de la Unidad de Legionella del Laboratorio de Referencia e Investigación en Enfermedades Bacterianas transmitidas por agua y alimentos.
A nivel europeo es sustituto (Alternate) al National Focal Point para la enfermedad del legionario en el ECDC y es OCP (Operational Contact Point) en microbiología para la legionelosis en la European Legionnaires' Disease Surveillance Network (ELDSNet).
Coordina las líneas de investigación del laboratorio que se desarrollan en tres perspectivas diferentes: en las instalaciones colonizadas, estudios sobre la resistencia a los tratamientos y su persistencia; en la clínica, sobre factores de virulencia y su interacción con el sistema inmune; y en la vigilancia microbiológica, sobre la mejorar de los métodos de caracterización del microorganismo.
Es Investigador Principal en el proyecto “Búsqueda de biomarcadores de patogenicidad en Legionella spp con interés predictivo de riesgo de infección".
Es miembro de distintas sociedades científicas como son la Sociedad Española de Salud Ambiental (SESA), Sociedad Española de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología Clínica (SEIMC) y la European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID).
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Juana María González Rubio
Científica Titular
ORCID code: 0000-0001-6979-2964
La Dra. Juana María González Rubio es Licenciada en Bioquímica por la Universidad de Salamanca y Doctora por la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. Actualmente, es Científico Titular de plantilla en el Centro Nacional de Microbiología del Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), donde trabaja en la Unidad de Legionella del Laboratorio de Referencia e Investigación en Enfermedades Bacterianas transmitidas por agua y alimentos.
Dentro del laboratorio, realiza las actividades propias del Programa de Vigilancia Microbiológica de Legionella, y lleva las líneas de investigación del laboratorio sobre la caracterización de biofilms y la puesta a punto de nuevas técnicas para la caracterización de Legionella. También forma parte del equipo investigador del proyecto “Búsqueda de marcadores de patogenicidad para el análisis de riesgos en las instalaciones".
Anteriormente, ha trabajado en la Unidad de Biomonitorización humana del Centro Nacional de Sanidad Ambiental (ISCIII) participando en diferentes proyectos de investigación relacionados con la Sanidad Ambiental, siendo el último más destacado el proyecto “HBM4EU" en el que ha trabajado hasta junio de 2023.
List of staff
Additional Information
The group is interested in the study of the immune response from a multidisciplinary perspective that includes genomic, biochemical, proteomic, in vivo and biotechnological models aimed at the design of therapeutic strategies against various chronic, infectious and rare diseases that have a clear immunological component in their etiology.
The current specific objectives focus on:
- Antigenic presentation: Identification of antigenic presentation rules for their application in the design of therapeutic treatments including vaccines.
- Study of CD69 function and its regulation; its use as a therapeutic target in the mobilization of hematopoietic precursors and in the potentiation of the immune response mediated by CD69 with the potentiation of vaccines using the vaccinia virus as a vector.
The group is interested in the study of the immune response from a multidisciplinary perspective that includes genomic, biochemical, proteomic, in vivo and biotechnological models aimed at the design of therapeutic strategies against various chronic, infectious and rare diseases that have a clear immunological component in their etiology.
The current specific objectives focus on:
- Antigenic presentation: Identification of antigenic presentation rules for their application in the design of therapeutic treatments including vaccines.
- Study of CD69 function and its regulation; its use as a therapeutic target in the mobilization of hematopoietic precursors and in the potentiation of the immune response mediated by CD69 with the potentiation of vaccines using the vaccinia virus as a vector.